Big B Recalls His Father Sending Home Memorabilia From Queen’s Coronation

MUMBAI, (IANS) – Amitabh Bachchan paid tribute to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.  

He recalled how his father and legendary poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan was in England when the Queen was crowned.

“Babuji was in England for his PhD, when she was crowned, and the Coronation was the huge event of the moment in 1952. and the news and the books and the curios designed then were dutifully sent to me in Allahabad.”

“Sets of make your own Coronation coach and the various monuments and the finery of a crowning in England were among us at 17, Clive Road, Allahabad and hours spent in building them and getting books and information presented in colorful books were our prized possession ….”

He added: “A private handshake with her when she was a State Guest during my University days, to India and that exclusive moment at Rashtrapati Bhavan, among the four or five of us.”

“The select group of invitees at Buckingham Palace during the time of Babuji’s stay in Cambridge when at a private Tea he was called along with, other country guests. the Indian Cricket team in particular – the likes of Vinoo Mankad, and Hazare and more .. and the signed autographs of them sent to us on the invitation card from the Palace .. now all lost or misplaced when we shifted from Allahabad to Delhi.

“The letters the books and objects of remembrance all lost. pity. because the idea of documentation or of reserve and storage in collectibles was never a consideration now as you look back. the regret and remorse.”